Stakeholders in the Nigerian maritime industry have expressed renewed concern over the resurgence of gratification, cargo diversion and unofficial charges at the nation’s seaports, urging regulatory authorities to strengthen enforcement of existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) across all terminals.
Findings by Shipping Position Daily indicate that the practice of onboard gratification and cargo leakages—previously curtailed through the intervention of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) via the Port Standing Task Team (PSTT)—is gradually resurfacing, particularly at the Lagos and Warri ports, raising fresh apprehension within the industry.
Investigations further revealed that the sharp decline earlier recorded in these practices, following coordinated enforcement of the Nigerian Port Process Manual (NPPM) and agency-specific SOPs by the PSTT, is being eroded, as lapses in compliance and monitoring begin to reappear at some ports.
The concerns were highlighted by maritime stakeholders who spoke with Shipping Position Daily last week, and who warned that the practice of officials and dockworkers demanding “thank you” items from vessels is undermining port efficiency, increasing cargo losses and damaging Nigeria’s reputation in the global shipping community.
Industry stakeholders insist that without renewed enforcement of port SOPs, Nigeria risks continued revenue losses, safety compromises and reputational damage in the international maritime space.
Speaking exclusively to our correspondent last week, a Consultant of the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) and immediate past Coordinator of the PSTT, Mr. Moses Fadipe alleged that once a vessel, whether fishing trawlers or cargo ships laden with public consumables, arrives in Nigerian ports, many officials who board the vessel, expect some form of gratification. According to him, the situation has become institutionalized in some locations, especially through informal arrangements with dockworkers.
Fadipe disclosed that investigations by the Port Standing Task Team earlier uncovered ‘agreements’ between members of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and shipping agents, where fishing trawlers were compelled to part with a percentage of their consignments based on tonnage.
Although the former PSTT Coordinator noted that such anomalies had earlier been reduced to its barest minimum at the ports through enforcement of the SOPs, he however lamented that those illegal practices have resurfaced at the ports particularly in Warri and Lagos .
He noted that port SOPs clearly stipulate that any government official boarding a vessel must carry working tools and valid ID cards, while bags must be transparent. Dockworkers are expected to be in uniform and account for all cargo through tally clerks, with no allowance to pick fallen items or receive any gift onboard the vessel.
Fadipe stressed that the only sustainable solution is for all players, particularly regulatory agencies, to reinforce the SOPs and ensure strict compliance.
“When a trunk misses and falls, it is recorded as an error and accounted for. The SOP does not allow anybody to pick such things. This anomaly was stopped and reduced to the barest minimum by the Port Standing Task Team, but unfortunately it is beginning to rear-up again, especially in BUA, Warri Port and also Lagos ports.
“The vessel handlers believe that if they do not comply, during offloading the crane may suddenly ‘miss target’ and cargo will fall, which wharf rats will salvage, creating losses for the company. To minimise loss, they strike agreements. Over time, this became a way of life and it is against the SOP,” Fadipe alleged.
Adding his voice, a Master Mariner, Captain Henry Gomwalk described the practice as embarrassing and harmful to Nigeria’s image. He recalled his personal experience where foreign maritime professionals questioned him why almost everyone boarding Nigerian vessels demand provisions, cigarettes, fish or even diesel.
Captain Gomwalk clarified that the problem cuts across dockworkers and government agencies alike, including Immigration, Customs and Port health officials, all of whom board vessels for statutory functions. He warned that such behaviour encourages compromise in regulatory duties, as officials may overlook safety, immigration, customs or port health obligations once gratified by ship operators.
On solutions, he advocated stricter documentation, publication of anti-gratification rules and sanctions for offenders. He suggested that the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and other regulators should formally declare that giving anything to personnel boarding vessels is illegal and punishable.
“The standard is simple: you come on board, do your job and go. But it has become normal practice for people to go onboard fishing vessels and ask for fish, even diesel in kegs. This is really affecting the reputation of Nigeria because it is against global standards. That is corruption as far as I know. It brings compromise in the delivery of our duties. Whatever you are sent onboard to do, you get paid for it. If you are not satisfied, ask for better conditions, not to extort vessels.
“Notices should be promulgated by NPA, NIMASA and other agencies that on arrival in Nigerian ports, it is against Nigerian law to give anything to any person who comes onboard to do a job. Vessels will read it from their nautical publications before arrival,” Gomwalk said.
